KAFKA AMERIKA

Kafka Amerika - Landestheater LInz 2009 - Jochen Ulrich, Kurt Schwertzik, Simon Corder, Bjanka Ursulov - Jonatan Salgado Romero, Ilja van den Bosch, Matej Pagjert, Alexander Novikov and Dancers of the Jochen Ulrich Company at the Landestheater Linz

Jochen Ulrich’s reflection on his choreography:

Genesis of the Ballet
Jochen Ulrich was inspired by Federico García Lorca’s The Walk of Buster Keaton, which led him to Kafka’s Amerika. He saw parallels between Karl Roßmann and Buster Keaton—both figures who endure hardship with quiet resilience.

Collaboration and Vision
In Linz, Ulrich aimed to create contemporary works with modern artists. He chose composer Kurt Schwertsik, known for his wit and emotional depth, to bring Kafka’s spirit to life through music. They had previously collaborated in the 1970s on Walzerträume.

Creative Process
Ulrich wrote the libretto, and Schwertsik composed the music largely independently. When the music arrived, Ulrich found it matched—and even exceeded—his vision. He describes the result as a revelation, capturing the inner imagery he sought to express on stage.